Footwear covers and associated methods

ABSTRACT

Footwear covers and associated methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a cover may include a top face defining two side edges and a back edge. Further, the cover may include a foreshortened, substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge. The first edge may extend in a first direction and is attached to one of the side edges of the top face. The second edge may extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and attaches to the back edge of the top face. The cover may also include a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/846,917, filed Jul. 16, 2013; the content ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter relates to apparel, and more specifically tofootwear covers and associated methods.

BACKGROUND

Running, hiking, biking, walking, or otherwise enjoying outdooractivities in rain or snow can lead to wet socks, wet shoes, and wetfeet. Besides being uncomfortable, this can lead to blisters, athlete'sfoot and other fungal infections, and in extreme situations trench foot,immersion foot, jungle rot, or gangrene. Wet shoes during competitiveactivity can lead to slower racing times, inaccuracies in passing andshooting, or other undesirable decreases in athletic performance.

Recreational activities are not alone in leading to wet socks, shoes,and feet. Swimming pool attendants, food service workers, factoryworkers in the paper making industry, and many others may have tocontend with wet socks, feet, and shoes. As well, repeated cycles ofwetting and drying can cause the leather portions of shoes to shrink andcrack destroying the shoe.

Current practice consists of covering the shoe in loose fitting rubberor other water resistant material. Though this works in some situations,it can lead to a loss of traction and thus control that is undesirablein outdoor or competitive athletic activities as well as most employmentscenarios. For at least these reasons, there is need for improvedfootwear coverings.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Disclosed herein are footwear covers and associated methods. Accordingto an aspect, a cover may include a top face defining two side edges anda back edge. Further, the cover may include a foreshortened,substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge,and a third edge. The first edge may extend in a first direction and isattached to one of the side edges of the top face. The second edge mayextend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the firstdirection and attaches to the back edge of the top face. The cover mayalso include a back face attached to the third edge of the L shaped faceand the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shaped face,and back face define a hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofvarious embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purposes of illustration, there is shownin the drawings exemplary embodiments; however, the presently disclosedsubject matter is not limited to the specific methods andinstrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, perspective view of an example footwearcover in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an upper, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS. 1and 2 along with a magnification of a portion of the closure mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a lower, side perspective view of the cover shown in FIGS.1-3;

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a cover as an individual is wearing thecover over one of the individual's shoes and attaching the cover by useof the drawstring; and

FIG. 6 shows a front view of an individual wearing covers during anoutdoor activity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The presently disclosed subject matter is described with specificity tomeet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is notintended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventor hascontemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied inother ways, to include different steps or elements similar to the onesdescribed in this document, in conjunction with other present or futuretechnologies. Moreover, although the term “step” may be used herein toconnote different aspects of methods employed, the term should not beinterpreted as implying any particular order among or between varioussteps herein disclosed unless and except when the order of individualsteps is explicitly described.

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional, perspective view of an examplefootwear cover in accordance with an embodiment of the present subjectmatter. The cover is shown in an upright position as it would be wornduring operation to cover an individual's shoe. Thus, the upward orvertical direction in the figure is upright during use. Also, thehorizontal direction in the figure would be substantially parallel toground during use.

Referring to FIG. 1, the cover includes a top face 102, oneforeshortened L shaped face 103, and a back face 104. The top face 102may cover a portion of an end of a shoe (not shown in this figure).Further, the top face 102 extends to and terminates at a back edge 105.As shown, the top face 102 is angled with respect to the horizontaldirection. The angle may be between about 10° and about 60°. The backedge 105 attaches to a vertical edge 106 of L shaped face 103. The topface 102 also attaches to L shaped face 103 at top face's side edge 107and L shaped face's horizontal edge 108. The L shaped face 103 isforeshortened such that the face 103 ends at and forms a diagonal edgethat cuts back toward the back face 104. The back edge 109 of theforeshortened L shaped face 103 and the back edge 105 of the top face102 connects to the back face 104. The back face 104 can extend in thevertical direction between about 3 inches and about 10 inches.

The cover may include a closure mechanism, generally designated 110,configured for tightening a top portion of the cover around an upperportion of an individual's foot, ankle, or lower leg. In this example,the closure mechanism 110 includes a drawstring 112 that can be threadedwithin an upper portion of the cover. An individual may use the portion114 of the drawstring 112 that is exposed tie the drawstring 112 forsecuring the cover to the individual. The drawstring 112 may be made ofany suitable material such as plastic. In another example, thedrawstring 112 may be an elastic band. In yet another example, theclosure mechanism 110 may be a hook and fastener mechanism suitablyattached to the upper portion of the cover for securing the cover to theindividual.

The cover may be made of any suitable material. The material may bewaterproof or semi-waterproof. Further, the material may be washable. Asan example, all or a portion of the cover may be made of plastic,rubber, cloth, neoprene, spandex, rubber, or the like.

FIG. 2 shows a top perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 1.Referring to FIG. 2, the cover includes a second foreshortened L shapedface 202 that substantially “mirrors” the face 103. The foreshortened Lshaped face 202's horizontal edge 203 is attached to top face 102'ssecond side edge 204 while foreshortened L shaped face's vertical edge205 is attached to the top face 102+s back edge 105. By thisconfiguration, the top face 102, back face 104, and foreshortened Lshaped faces 103 and 202 define a top hole 205 for fitting around anindividual's upper foot, ankle, or lower leg. Further, an opening isprovided within the cover from the top hole 205 to a bottom hole forcontaining the individual's foot and shoe. The bottom part of theindividual's shoe can extend out of the bottom hole for contact with theground during walking or running.

FIG. 3 illustrates an upper, side perspective view of the cover shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 along with a magnification of a portion of the closuremechanism 110 (depicted within the broken-line circle 300). As shown inthe magnified portion 300, a portion (shown in broken lines) of thedrawstring 110 is threaded within a portion of the top part of thecover. In this way, the drawstring 112 is held in place. The otherportion 114 can be exposed so that the wearer can tie the drawstring 110for securing the cover around the individual's upper foot, ankle, orlower leg.

FIG. 4 illustrates a lower, side perspective view of the cover shown inFIGS. 1-3. Referring to FIG. 4, this figure shows a bottom hole 400 atthe bottom part of the cover through which the individual's shoe canextend out of the bottom hole for contact with the ground during walkingor running as discussed above.

The cover as disclosed herein can protect footwear in adverse conditionswithout impeding traction as shown in the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6.FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a cover as an individual 500 iswearing the cover over one of the individual's shoes 502 and attachingthe cover by use of the drawstring 112. FIG. 5 also shows another coverplaced on the ground and ready for attachment to the individual's othershoe and foot. Further, as shown the tread of the shoe 502 is exposed toallow the shoe's tread to contact the ground. FIG. 6 illustrates a frontview of an individual 600 wearing covers 602 and 604 during an outdooractivity.

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, one or moreportions or the entirety of a cover may be formed of rigid or semi-rigidmaterial for retaining a shape as shown by the figures and describedherein. For example, the material of one or more portions may be made ofrubber or flexible plastic for retaining a shape.

While the embodiments have been described in connection with the variousembodiments of the various figures, it is to be understood that othersimilar embodiments may be used or modifications and additions may bemade to the described embodiment for performing the same functionwithout deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed embodiments shouldnot be limited to any single embodiment, but rather should be construedin breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A cover comprising: a top face defining two sideedges and a back edge; a foreshortened, substantially L shaped face thatdefines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, wherein the firstedge extends in a first direction and is attached to one of the sideedges of the top face, and wherein the second edge extends in a seconddirection substantially perpendicular to the first direction andattaches to the back edge of the top face; and a back face attached tothe third edge of the L shaped face and the back edge of the top facesuch that the top face, L shaped face, and back face define a hole. 2.The cover of claim 1, wherein the L shaped face is a first L shapedface, and wherein the cover further comprises a second foreshortened,substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge,and a third edge, wherein the first edge of the second L shaped faceextends in substantially the same direction as the first direction andis attached to the other side edge of the top face, and wherein thesecond edge extends substantially the same direction as the seconddirection and attaches to the back edge of the top face.
 3. The cover ofclaim 2, further comprising a closure mechanism attached substantiallycircumferentially about the hole for securing the cover to anindividual.
 4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the closure mechanismcomprises a drawstring.
 5. The cover of claim 3, wherein the closuremechanism comprises an elastic band.
 6. The cover of claim 3, whereinthe closure mechanism comprises a hook and fastener mechanism.
 7. Thecover of claim 1, wherein the L shaped face, the top face, and the backface comprise one of cloth, neoprene, spandex, and rubber.
 8. The coverof claim 1, wherein the top face defines a bottom edge positioned lowerthan the back edge.
 9. The cover of claim 1 wherein said top face has abottom edge positioned lower than said back edge.
 10. The cover of claim1, further comprising a closure mechanism positioned near anintersection of the top face, the L shaped face, and the back face. 11.The cover of claim 10, wherein the closure mechanism comprises adrawstring.
 12. The cover of claim 10, wherein the closure mechanismcomprises an elastic band.
 13. The cover of claim 10, wherein theclosure mechanism comprises a hook and fastener mechanism.
 14. The coverof claim 1, wherein one of the top face, the L shaped face, and the backface are made of a rigid material or semi-rigid material.
 15. A methodof using a footwear cover, the method comprising: providing footwearbeing worn by an individual; providing a footwear cover comprising: atop face defining two side edges and a back edge; a foreshortened,substantially L shaped face that defines a first edge, a second edge,and a third edge, wherein the first edge extends in a first directionand is attached to one of the side edges of the top face, and whereinthe second edge extends in a second direction substantiallyperpendicular to the first direction and attaches to the back edge ofthe top face; and a back face attached to the third edge of the L shapedface and the back edge of the top face such that the top face, L shapedface, and back face define a hole; covering the footwear with thefootwear cover; and using a closure mechanism to attach the footwearcover to one of the individual and footwear.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the L shaped face is a first L shaped face, and wherein thecover further comprises a second foreshortened, substantially L shapedface that defines a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge, whereinthe first edge of the second L shaped face extends in substantially thesame direction as the first direction and is attached to the other sideedge of the top face, and wherein the second edge extends substantiallythe same direction as the second direction and attaches to the back edgeof the top face.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the closuremechanism is attached substantially circumferentially about the hole forsecuring the cover to an individual.
 18. The method of claim 15, whereinthe closure mechanism comprises a drawstring.
 19. The method of claim15, wherein the closure mechanism comprises an elastic band.
 20. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a hook andfastener mechanism.